The US mobile market is weird in that almost all the phones floating around here are locked to one carrier or another. You can usually request an unlock code from the carrier if you are not under contract or still paying off the device, but Sprint is different. It claims it doesn't have any mechanism to unlock phones for use on other US carriers right now, but that's going to change next year.

Even in cases where you can get a SIM unlock on your Sprint phone, it will only work internationally right now – it's the only carrier that operates in this way. The CTIA's Consumer Code for Wireless Service was put together late last year and includes, among other things, requirements that carriers adopt more consumer-friendly unlocking procedures. The FCC had to do a bit of threatening to get this passed, but Sprint and other carriers got on board. Note: unlockable doesn't mean they are always unlocked, just that it is possible to unlock them, provided you qualify.

Here's the language in Sprint's unlocking FAQ that spells out its plans.

I've been told by another carrier that Sprint needs to unlock my SIM slot in order to use my phone on the other carrier's network.

For eligible devices, Sprint will unlock the SIM slot, to the extent that a device SIM slot is capable of being unlocked. It is important to note that not all devices are capable of being unlocked, often because of the manufacturers' device designs, and that even for those devices capable of being unlocked, not all device functionality may be capable of being unlocked. Specifically, devices manufactured with a SIM slot within the past three years (including, but not limited to, all Apple iPhone devices), cannot be unlocked to accept a different domestic carrier's SIM for use on another domestic carrier's network. Sprint has no technological process available to do this. In accordance with Sprint's voluntary commitment contained within CTIA's Consumer Code for Wireless Service (“Unlocking Commitment”), Sprint is working to ensure that all devices developed and launched on or after February 11, 2015 are capable of being unlocked domestically.

Sprint’s unlocking policy appears to apply only to postpaid customers. I am a prepaid customer. Am I eligible to have my device unlocked?

Neither Sprint nor its prepaid affiliates (Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless) currently unlock devices for prepaid customers. However, in accordance with the Unlocking Commitment, Sprint and its prepaid affiliates are working to create new policies and procedures in order to unlock prepaid devices, or to provide the information necessary to unlock the devices, after certain eligibility requirements to be established are met. Consistent with the Unlocking Commitment, Sprint and its prepaid affiliates will implement these new policies and procedures no later than February 11, 2015.

So, we're basically looking at a future where you can get a Sprint phone and unlock it to work on a GSM carrier like AT&T or T-Mobile (almost all devices have the radios). This is something that should have happened a long time ago, seeing as it's technically possible to unlock phones for use on international carriers already. It's not just Android users who deal with this – iPhone folks have the same issues. It's one of the few things we can all come together on.

Sprint is essentially saying that when it is required to unlock phones, it will do so by no longer requiring domestic SIM lockouts. The wording makes it sound like unlocking will work with the prepaid sub-brands, as well. It's a good development for consumers, but long overdue.

Ryan is a tech/science writer, skeptic, lover of all things electronic, and Android fan. In his spare time he reads golden-age sci-fi and sleeps, but rarely at the same time. His wife tolerates him as few would.
He's the author of a sci-fi novel called The Crooked City, which is available on Amazon and Google Play.

Comments

CDMA carriers are weird, there I said it. It's time that US carriers join the world in adopting GSM-based standards. LTE is a great step towards this.

WitnessG

Both ATT and TMobile are GSM and they are the only carriers I have used. I don't want to mess with Sprint or Verizon.

Teresa Faulkner

Sprint is awesome, Verizon Suxs way to much charges on data

Peter Oliver

The U.S.A. has four major carriers. Two of them are CDMA/LTE and two are GSM.

archercc

Sadly the biggest is still CDMA. Hopefully the VoLTE finally kills that off.

Richard Saunders

Actually CDMA just refers to the modulation technology. GSM encompasses a few of them, including CDMA for data services. GSM voice actually uses the much inferior TDMA modulation, which was horribly inadequate for data services, hence the adoption of CDMA into the standard. LTE actually uses OFDMA for modulation, and it too is yet another that is added into GSM.

Though Sprint and Verizon use CDMA2000 and GSM uses WCDMA, CDMA2000 (esp. rev A) is technically better. However given that GSM carriers effectively use two radios, GSM phones have been able to do simultaneous voice/data whereas Sprint (and just Sprint, as Verizon eventually worked around it) hasn't offered this functionality.

jason

My s3 which is almost 2 years old will do talk and data at the same time. I've done it numerous times. I've been a Sprint customer since 2002. Not sure if you realize phones on Sprint can do simultaneous voice/data. I don't know when it became possible, but I've had that capability the whole time I've had the gs3

Richard Saunders

You'll only be able to do that if you're on Wi-Fi or 4g. Sprint completely lacks that capability while on 3g only.

RKO

Richard Saunders --- You are misinforming the people reading this forum. You can do simultaneous voice/data with sprint and it does not have to be on a 4G or WiFi network. I was an Engineer working for Sprint. They had this difficulty about 5-6 years ago however was quickly resolved similar to the way Verizon resolved their issue.

Richard Saunders

Then explain to me why my sprint galaxy nexus never had this capability. Sprint never offered 4g in Phoenix (and what coverage they offer today is incomplete and awfu, meanwhile all of the other carriers blanket the area) so I was always on 3g, and likewise I couldn't do that (not to mention sprints 3g goes much slower than T-Mobile's 2g.)

Will Mills

YOU are misinforming people. I have an iPhone 5c and can NOT use data and voice simultaneously. I have LTE service and get error messages every time I try to use data during a voice call.

Shicken

Actually that is an iPhone specific issue. Sprint clearly warns you that iPhones on their network will not be able to handle simultaneous voice/data even if you have 4G reception. Apple did not want to put two separate radios in CDMA iPhones in order to allow this.

"An Apple spokeswoman, Natalie Kerris, put it this way: “iPhone 5 supports simultaneous voice and data on GSM-based 3G and LTE networks. It is not yet possible to do simultaneous voice and data on networks that use CDMA for voice and LTE for data in a single radio design.” - New York Times

Shun Heart

I have a s5 and i can't use data when on a phone call either. And to be sure i just tried to use it again only to no avail.

notcha

i too have the gs3 on sprint and have tested the ability to use both data and voice at the same time, withou wifi. i bought the lg g2 on sprint and could no longer use voice and data at the same time. shot email to lg support and they apologized, but they did not include 2 antenna's so my new phone was inferior to my old phone in that regard. antenna on g2 overall seems to be inferior.

James Diman

I don't understand all the frenzy of unlocking a phone. I have been on my carrier for like at least 14 years, have no plans of changing. I am not a bandwagon jumper and going to go from carrier to carrier.
Also, why have SIM cards? Really don't understand the need for them. Never had one, never used one. Seem to have gotten by just fine.

Badouken

How are you on a carrier then if you don't have a sim card? That's how your phone gets service...

timrcm

Ever heard of CDMA? If he doesn't have a modern phone from the last couple of years that's totally feasible.

Badouken

Ah makes sense Nevermind my bad Internet, ignore me lol

James Diman

I am on CDMA, with an S3, with no SIM slot. Sprint does not use SIM cards on most phones (although there have been some, but the SIM card was used for international calling when outside of the US). The S4 did come with a SIM slot, but you don't have to have a SIM card in it to work in the US.

This is why I stated, I don't understand why we need SIM cards. Never used one.

Badouken

Ahhhh didn't know that because I have a galaxy S3, that does have a sim card but I'm Verizon. Makes waaayyy more sense to me

benanov

You don't *need* them - CDMA providers (Verizon/Sprint) didn't use them for a long time. They are an optional part of the CDMA standards and as such they are not there.

They are a required part of the GSM standard.

The way they work is very pro-consumer.

Connor Mason

Is it not completely reasonable to be able to take your phone overseas and use a local carrier? The big 3 don't think so.

deltatux

...because not everyone is like you where they want to have the freedom to move between carriers or travel to other countries without being gouged by Sprint/Verizon? SIM & GSM-capable phones are all about giving the consumer choice. I thought that's what most consumers would want, no? Also, most carriers around the world use GSM-based standards and have SIM-capable phones.

Jephri

How did you find Android police and why are you here? Asking out of general curiosity not disrespect. Kinda though most of the readers here were hard core phone geeks. Sim cards are awesome if you rock more than one device and like to swap between different phones regularly. I'm using an HTC One M8, Sony Z1s and Nokia 925 (it was given to me for free and has a great camera) and I can swap between them as often as I like.

Stone Cold

I wish they would adopt a standard we had full sized, micro and now nano sim cards don't want to have to get a sim card adapter just to switch phones.

Serge

Switching providers keeps them on their toes and makes the market competitive. Do you buy your computer from your ISP?

Willie D

You must be in the Senior 65 plan on Verizon too

Stone Cold

Sim card make it simple switching phones. For T-mobile and AT&T customers if you keep a back up phone and your main phone breaks you still have a phone you can use by taking the sim card and putting in your old phone.

Let's take the iPhone 5S for example (I know, bad example on this particular website, but bear with me). This phone is made with nearly every radio band used on Earth. It is unlocked out of the box on every carrier except for Sprint. You can buy a Verizon iPhone 5S today, take the SIM out of it, and pop in an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM and it'll work right then and there (including LTE, thanks to the large numbers of bands on this phone).

Sprint is the ONLY exception to this rule. They use the same precise phone Verizon does, but force it to be locked down domestically before they put it on their shelves. If they have the ability to lock it, then they have the ability to unlock it - period. Even if Apple (or HTC, or Samsung, or whatever) is doing it for them, it absolutely is reversible. No HARDWARE change is being made to these Sprint phones. The lockdown is most definitely firmware-.based.

It's crap, because Sprint is doing this for one reason - profit. People are less likely to leave before their contract is over if they have to get an entire new phone on top of paying their ETF. They are bleeding customers, and using this tactic to try and reign some of them back in for as long as possible.

koiulpoi

I totally agree with your post, except, unfortunately, the technical details are wrong. Sprint does not use the same iPhone 5S as AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile. See:https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
Sprint uses the Model A1453 (same as their now-parent company, Softbank), while AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all use Model A1533. They are different devices that support different bands.

That being said, there is no reason it shouldn't work, or shouldn't be able to work. They just can't guarantee interoperability, especially of LTE bands.

timrcm

From what I recall of the IFixIt teardown, the Sprint and Verizon models were identical with the only difference being the CDMA bands. Domestic GSM use should be the same if that's the case.

Brian T

Think about the reverse of what he is saying the T-Mobile Iphone 4s or 5s probably has the same chip set as the Verizon one but the carrier is activating certain bands. They are blocking the cdma service embedded into the phone

kpom

Actually, it is the CDMA carriers blocking access on the AT&T and T-Mobile phones. CDMA radios need to be registered to a network to function. Inserting a SIM card doesn't activate it (just the GSM, UMTS, and LTE radios). All Verizon LTE phones are completely unlocked (I use a Verizon phone on AT&T) but Sprint won't activate them, even where they use the same frequencies.

Brian T

you missed my point. If the phone you buy at ATT has a chipset that support CDMA and they choose not to enable. Same thing sprint does on its phones they use firmware to stop domestic GSM useage

kpom

It's not that they intentionally refuse to enable it. Verizon and Sprint refuse to let them access their networks, whether or not the radio is active. They will only activate phones with ESNs specifically registered to their networks. So it's pointless for unlocked phones to have active CDMA radios. Even the completely unlocked and unbranded phones sold by Apple and Google can't access CDMA networks because Verizon and Sprint refuse to register the phones onto their networks.

Brian T

thats not true I have a nexus 5 that i bought from the play store and it works on Sprint even the LTE. I also have a copy of the CDMA workshop and have used Sprint phones on Verizon without an issue. With CDMA phones its got a lot to do with the PRL because that tells the radios in the phone what network to use. Newer cdma phones have the PRL in the SIM just like GSM. Now if you go into a Verizon store with a Sprint phone they will tell you you can't activate it on sprint but you can. link to software http://cdma-ware.com/workshop.html

TKO

It's funny how a lot of people on this forum seem to think they know what they are talking about but truly have no clue.

Let me just say one thing. Which is factual and you will find this evidence if you research it:

Sprint does have the ability to unlock phones; however Sprint will do whatever they can to tie down a customer to their contract. This is why the following is true:

Everyone has a two year contract however after a year and about 6-8 months you can upgrade your phone; however that does not mean your contract is up. They do this because most consumers once they have a contract they will more than likely be impatient and purchase a phone and tie themselves into another two year contract.

So you see there is a little bit of truth to what everyone here is saying but everyone is to busy going back and forth manipulating the facts because they do not want to be wrong.

Bottom line:

Sprint has the capabilities to unlock any phone they sell.
AT&T the same
Verizon--- same situation.
T-Mobile--- no need to even go there.
and everyone else who is not included above.

I engineer phones for a living; I make the big bucks doing this and know that every phone is encoded with a unique serial number within the motherboard of each phone to be identified through carriers per NSA guidelines; This serial number is registers with every cell phone carrier from here to the North Pole and back.

There is a way to get any phone unlocked. Demand your phone to be unlocked! IT CAN BE DONE!

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

Biggy Johnson

Like you said thats only partly true because there biggest seller these days is the new Framley plan and its entirely non contract. If you bring your own phone I believe they are non credit check. It is true that Sprint currently locks down their phones so they wont pick up ATT and T-mobile. Its also true that they will not currently unlock a phone for a customer even if they ask.

Here is my point again Take the new Samsung Galaxy s5 all the us variants use the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974-AC this chip set supports both CDMA/LTE and GSM/LTE but if you buy a ATT or T-Mobile branded Galaxy S5 they have not enabled the CDMA part of the chip set. To me this is exactly the same thing as what Sprint is doing by disabling the ATT and T-Mobile. I could only find one FCC test because they are all using the same radios for all variants.

So when it comes to handsets this actually makes Verizon the most customer friendly. And lets not forget this announcement is Sprint waving the white flag and saying they will play nice. I wonder if T-Moblie and ATT will follow

Here is my feeling if you want to sign a contract then the carrier should be able to lock the phone but if you want to pay full price the phone should be unlocked.

Serge

Both A1533 and A1453 models have the same FCC id BCG-E2642A. If you look at the certification documents iPhone 5S was tested only once in all CDMA, UMTS, HSPA and LTE modes for the certification. There are no separate tests for two models. The hardware is identical.

Bruce

I thought CDMA phones didn't have sim cards?

Serge

CDMA phones that are 3G only don't have SIM cards. All CDMA/LTE phones do have SIM cards.

James Diman

That is incorrect. I have two S3 phones that are CDMA/LTE with no SIM slot to be able to have a SIM card in it.

Brian T

true, well kind of that phone has an embedded sim, Sim cards are not exclusive to GSM even in pure cdma without LTE carriers can use them they just chose not to. There are benefits both ways obviously a non sim phone is harder to use after it has been stolen not to say you can't. GSM sim based phone are high theft targets

Serge

The question was about SIM cards not slots. I know what Sprint did with embedded SIM cards. That was a rock solid way to lock the SIM card!

Heather

The correct way to say it would be all "world phones" are equipped with SIM cards. Otherwise they wont work outside of the US.

Brian T

not true, some of Sprints phones contain embedded sim cards and they will roam internationally. Here is an example where someone removes the embedded sim and puts in a removable

They technically could if the carrier desired it. CDMA just refers to the modulation technology; it doesn't have anything to do with authentication (which is the primary purpose of the sim card.) GSM phones (e.g. tmobile, att) actually have CDMA radios, and have done so for well over a decade now.

MJ

Even if you can unlock a Sprint phone and move it to another carrier it will still have the Sprint branding on it so lame...

Sorry, only Nexus phones for me (no branding and unlocked out of the box) and I switched from Verizon to T-Mobile. I bought my Nexus 5 out right and have a $30 T-Mobile plan. Mobile phone freedom is awesome!

miri

Moto X doesn't have any carrier branding on Sprint and the apps only come after activation.

Heather

Seeing as the Nexus phones started out as Google innovation, and Motorola is now part of Google, it's not surprising.

I don't mean to be rude, but this is very inaccurate. Most of the flagship phones don't have any Sprint branding at all.

There is no branding on the LG G2, Moto X, iPhone 5, or Note 3. I'm pretty sure a lot of the others don't have it either.

miri

For some reason I was also under the impression that most Sprint phones had carrier branding, but now that I think of it, few of them do. Though I remember seeing (and hearing) at least a few Sprint boot animations.

Sorian

The S3 has the back cover, boot animation, and all the boatware Sprint apps. The S5 for work has it on the unlock screen (just text saying Sprint), boot animation, and same bloatware.

Josh

The unlock screen shows whatever carrier's SIM is inserted. Same with Nexus devices. I've popped a foreign SIM in my S4 in another country and it changes to the name of that carrier.

Sorian

Nice to know, I only have had Sprint phones.

MJ

We all know iPhones don't have branding but most Android phones do (maybe less so on Sprint) and I wasn't limiting this idea just to moving a phone bought from Sprint. Looking at you Verizon...

I just wish more phones were like Nexus phones with no carrier branding, unlocked, and with an easily unlocked boot-loader (not going to be greedy and ask for stock Android). It seems Samsung would have the clout to force this issue.

Omar Feliciano

Sprint is such a liar, S4, G2,Note 3 and others can be unlock domestically on XDA.

Brian T

through a hack that most people wont do not saying it cant be done. I did not reat they say it can't be done however under DMCA rules its currently illegal for you to unlock your own phone

jonathan3579

Oh. You're one of those..

Brian T

maybe you should ask before you imply

TKO

There should be no limitations to what you can and can't do on a cell phone in regards to "jailbreaking" and or "rooting" your phones. Unfortunately corporations want to grasp on to you and implement the features but not release the full capabilities legally to the society who long crave for the features and paid for the hand held devices.

Biggy Johnson

I agree with you that phone should be network unlocked. The fact I would like to point out is this announcement is Sprint has agreed that they will play nice and unlock phones. The way I read it DMCA makes it illegal for even sprint to unlock phones. interesting how they are getting around that. As for your anti corporate rant as far as I know Apple id the only company that has gone after its users for jailbreaking, i have never heard of a cell phone carrier going after subscribers for unlocking their phones

guest704

I also unlocked my g2 by rooting and installing the cloudy g3 rom. Thanks xda !!!!!!

hanfeedback

Sprint is a nightmare when it comes to unlocking devices, and even the prepaid seems to be an issue according to this article. Just one of MANY reasons to not touch Sprint with a 10ft pole.

Ali

I had a motorola photon 4g with sim card, but locked domestically, I couldnt get it to work on tmobile. I had to install custom radio and US cellular rom to get it to work for tmobile. sprint is trash now, people dont realize they are being ripped off now. My bill use to be 140 with all 4 lines, then it jumped to 240 when we all upgraded to "smart phones" with extra premium charges per line.

James Diman

So you buy a new phone, sign a two year contract and when you are done with the obligations with the contract, you unlock the phone and go to a different carrier.

After two years, why keep that same phone, wouldn't you be wanting a new phone anyways, have the latest and greatest? So you switch carriers (because for some reason you want to) and get a new phone of your choosing, and start a new contract.

Still don't see the need for a SIM card. Unless you want to travel internationally. But yet, my S3 with no SIM card works in Canada and Mexico, I have international calling in my plan.

I am a network engineer and a phone geek. But since I have never used a SIM card in any of my phones in 14 years, that is why I don't see the need for one, or for unlocking. I know most of you do, and I know that there is region locking in other countries, due to territories. I just think that we should be in a state of technology that we don't need SIM cards anymore.

EowynCarter

SIM card ? If you happen to be abroad and want to use your phone. And yeah, buy new phone, swap sim card, and you're done. No need to ask anything.

In France, all work with only sim cards.
Got my first phone in 2006, lost count of the time i changed carriers. And it sure is nice to be able to swap sim card easily in this cases.

Stupid question, with CDMA, how does it work when you lose your phone ?

blumpkinator

you buy a new phone either used [but originally sold by that carrier] or from the carrier directly. Then you ask the carrier for an ESN swap.

Terrible process that takes time, effort and employs a customer service agent. Sim card is vastly superior for changing devices.

I spent 8 years on CDMA. Never again!

iavaj jj

the travelling part is the thing;
i've been on sprint since 99, the ONLY mobile provider i've been on to date, & i could could count on one hand the phone i've had since then -
the qualcomm 2760 thinphone (the longest time)
motorola krzr( the shortest time)
palm pre (loved it, but wore it out)
nexus s 4g (just recently upgraded)
nexus 5 (current)
when i get a phone i love, when learning all it's quirks & adding accesories & the whatnots, i'm more than likely not planning to move on for awhile from that model;
what i hated, is when the technology change on me, or development dies with it, & outdates the current phone & makes it incompatible for use, & i'll ride a great phone until the perverbial wheels fall off the mutha..
when sprint announced compatibility with the nexus 5, i fell all over it, the 1st sim unlocked globe trotter on sprint??! hell yea..
do you know the beauty of vacationing to mexico, & not having to depend on sprint's outrageous roaming fees for a week or two, but instead, you go & buy a prepaid telcel sim card with 250mins & 1.5gb of data use for under $50, ??
or a two week stay in st martin, just swap the sprint sim out for a digicel sim that covers both sides of that island?
or a three country stay in europe using a truphone sim, france, spain, UK for a week?
keeping that sprint sim in the phone on those trips, would make you miss a mortage payment, or forfeit that cell phone bill, upon return..

ProductFRED

Sprint is CDMA. CDMA uses network registration via a code (ESN/MEID) to register a phone on its network. The first generation of Sprint LTE phones (E.g. Galaxy S3) have an integrated SIM card (a microchip) that emulates a SIM card. This doesn't allow people to use a foreign SIM card while traveling. So Sprint began using normal SIM cards from the Galaxy S4 onwards. A SIM card, even on a CDMA carrier is required for LTE (which is why Verizon uses them).

For GSM carriers, you can bring any phone you want, unlike on CDMA carriers. The phone isn't tied to your account. The SIM card is. If I take my T-Mobile SIM card and pop it into another phone, my service starts working in the other phone. Zero work necessary.

Really, I don't know how you're a network engineer without knowing what a SIM card is...

Its not related to this article at all but there is a apple-android fanboy shitstorm happening right now and its so funny

dude

I still wouldn't get one considering Sprint a lot of time get updates even slower than Verizon. But it could be a good budget alternative since to me it seems CDMA phones tends to not get as good resale value as GSM.

DollarsnSense

Sprint has been pretty good at getting Android updates. Definitely better than Verizon.

PhoneNews.com

"... cannot be unlocked to accept a different domestic carrier's SIM for use on another domestic carrier's network. Sprint has no technological process available to do this."

We have a bone to pick with that one. Sprint could easily tell manufacturers to roll out unlock processes at-will. And many of them would to help boost the value of their current devices. They're not doing so at the behest of Sprint today.

european

LOL, I remember this being an issue in the 90´s in Europe.

Anyway, this is one huge BS from Sprint, because the way it worked here, the carriers did the modifications or made the vendors do the modificiations to lock the phones. Stock FW on a phone is always unlocked.
In other words - Sprint locks their phones and then says that they don´t have the tools to unlock them. Come on...

http://www.facebook.com/thomas.locurto Thomas LoCurto

Sprint is lying through their teeth - a radio update is all that should be needed to allow devices to be unlocked domestically. In fact, my Sprint LG G2 works on T-Mobile with a simple build.prop edit. They are liars liars pants on fire.

Barry Davis

What was your edit?

ccccc

lets be honest. the ONLY reason sprint has been saying they never had the means to unlock their phones prior to this was b/c they knew if the avg joe realized they could take their sprint phone to another carrier then a lot more people would have abandoned sprint.

taylor long

Pshhh dont let Sprint fool you. They say they are going to unlock it. But they will make it a nightmare for you to actually get it unlocked. SPrint is a horrible company.

Screw Sprint, they finally lost my business last year when they took away my corporate discount (after several years of scaling it back) and then took away all long term subscriber perks. Not only that but they failed to offer 4G in Phoenix, and their supposed 3G speeds were in reality slower than 1G, making their unlimited data rather pointless.

Companies that raise your rates while reducing their quality of service don't deserve any business. It's no wonder their new owner said the company has a (and I quote) "loser attitude."

Tiff

Ok, so say if i want to go to Straight talk with my Sprint phone, my sprint phone is disconnected but it was a contract phone. My phone is unlock were i can still use web aslong as i have wi-fi. So if i get an activation kit i cant use that sim card?

http://www.microwav3d.com/ Mihir Garikiparithi

Please. They copy pasted their unlocking FAQ for you.

jsa4

Well can someone help me unlock my Sprint phone?? I'm VERY UN HAPPY with sprint!

Riversinc Er

So I have 2 fully paid phones(Samsung Galxy Note 3 & HTC One M8 HK Edition) from sprint that I want to use with another carrier with "supposed" unlock codes for both. I was told that installing a sim card from another carrier, would activate the unlock code screen to input the codes. That was not the case on both phones. Nothing happened. I am no longer with sprint. What can I do ?

Unlock It 4 U

I'm using a spring ls995 g flex on T-Mobile US right now so this article is bunk....

Cassandra Springfield Tipton

I unlocked my Sprint LG G3 (ls990) 2 nights ago . Currently operating on Straight talk sim. It's a fairly simple process. And now working on unlocking my wife's Sprint S5.* Only issues I'm having is picture messaging but I will get it fixed.

phonefreak

One thing that makes me mad is they say none of their devices are capable of being unlocked well the galaxy s5 have both cdma and gsm bands on all sprint models thats including boost mobile and virgin mobile so we should be able to unlock them to use other carriers

PinkFloydPink

I have a Moto X and cannot use voice and data simultaneously on Sprint. Having said that, Sprint is Number Three for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is their lack of transparency on contracts and equipment. Owning a cell phone shouldn't be complicated or supremely expensive plus the quality issue is still a problem with carriers like Sprint. ATT and T Mobile are the only carriers who seemed to understand what a world phone really is.
There are other alternatives as I have noticed like Cricket and FreedomPop all using exisiting networks.
Sprints incapable of making money or keeping market share. They'd be better off selling the business to those who do it better and less expensively.